From the Sea Foam

Chapter Three - Kivos

Meara and I walked up the steep hill to the top of Kivos. The city was set on three different hills, wrapping around a port. At the top of the tallest hill was the Great House of Kivos, one of the few city-states allowed to remain in the Empire. According to legend, Kivos rulers were somehow distant relatives to the Emperor and since blood was still blood, the Emperor did mind how close the city-state was to the Capital. I have always been suspicious that the city is actually secretly controlled by the Emperor and that the label of city-state is merely a facade. But then again, what do I know? 

I will say that I was even more inclined to believe in this conspiracy because our mission--our first big assignment as graduates of the elite school of Firelite-- was to pick up a Kivos' Princess for one the Emperor's sons to marry. That was our exciting mission. To be babysitters to a young, unknown Princess as she was shipped off to her new fourth-son-never-going-to-have-power hubby. Yep. So extraneous and difficult. 

But anyway, it seemed that whatever allegiances had been made, each party wanted a stronger bond. With the Emperor's greed and taste for domination, I wondered how long Kivos would maintain the title of city-state.

Walking up the hill I was stunned by the level of prosperity surrounding the Great House. Shops sold jewelry, stunning hand spun silks, great carpets, and delicate spices. Lucious gardens spread out from pagoda roofed houses like long nightgowns, filled with koi ponds and statues. Tiny alleyways cut through hedges and walls, showing glimpses of small shrines, public bathhouses, and even more statues. Kivos dazzled in its Middler culture. I had never been to an urban space that smelled so lovely, streets that smelled of spices and flowers and seawater. 

But this beauty seems to rich.  Like a mask. So I kept an eye out for the city's drainage system, seeking the secret underbelly of such a glamourous upper world.

Like always, my eyes followed the guards, stationed at every major intersection. There also seemed to be several pairs of guards on horseback, patrolling at an easy gait. The guards seemed relatively relaxed, even a little lackadaisical, leaning against lamp-poles, smacking their buddy's back, flicking change at nearby horses. One rather rude guard even whistled at Meara. Rather than any strong force, these guards were a symbol of power. Kivos may not need this many wasted men, but they could train this many men. They could afford the expense. 

When we reached the top of the hill we paused, noticing the large nearly empty square before a massive stone wall. Over it, I could just barely make out the tops of angled roofs and the leaves of trees. The crowd around us diverted and swam away on other paths, like fish navigating around a rock. The emptiness of the square was intimidating to say the least. Glancing at one another in one of those near-telepathic moments, we braved its emptiness and walked up to the massive iron gate. Two guards, posted on either side inspected us.

"Business access is around back," a guard said gruffly, pointing around a corner in the wall. His helmet seemed a bit too small for his ego. Following his gesture, I could see a long line of merchants, tradesmen, and sanitation workers shuffling through a much smaller and less ornate hole in the hedge that grew beyond the empty square and along the rest of the wall.

I quickly reached into my rucksack and pulled out the Official letter, stamped by the Capital and wax sealed by Firelite.

"We are here for a different sort of business," Meara smiled. She always oozed charisma and charm. The men seemed a bit stunned by the contrasting appearance between us (clearly well-trained fighters) and the official letter.

"Are you here to take the Princess?" One asked in a hushed whisper. Someone had been listening to gossip.

"What if we are?" Meara smiled again, this time a chill sweeping through her voice.

"Are you going to keep us waiting?" I asked, middy irritated. The guards glanced at one another, nodded in unison and reached for the levers of the gate. Incompetence, I thought, watching the two men shuffle around like clowns. It was a clever system, the front gate. Two levers on either side of the gate needed to be pulled at the exact same moment for the gate's locks to unhitch and the pulleys to slide. Ah, so there is a need for these two idiots.

The gate's door swung open without any sound of a squeak and we walked through.